Paper cutting machine



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PAPER CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 26, 1934.

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PAPER CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR. MXLW ATTORNEY) June 1934- w. VALIQUETTE PAPER CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 26, 1934. w. L. VALIQUETTE PAPER CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENT OR. haw Afhz zudz 10 d7 QZA ATTORNEY June 1934- w. 1.. VALIQUETTE 1,964,545

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ATTORNEYJ' Patented June 26, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER CUTTING MACHINE Application January 24,

16 Claims.

My invention relates to paper cutting machines and gauges therefor which regulate and determine the position of the paper with relation to the cutting knife and clamp.

It is the object of my invention to provide improvements in paper cutting machines, particu larly of the type disclosed in the United States patent to Charles Seybold No. 1,451,120 of April 10, 1923. In this machine there are incorporated a number of improvements directed toward making an entirely automatic machine in which simplicity of adjustment is provided with a minimum number of operating parts, and in which the paper clamp is power actuated, and at the same time provided with means by which the clamp level may be manually operated.

It is broadly the object of my invention to provide back gauges on paper cutting machines which will be operable independently so that the length of a series of sheets to be cut may be determined by one gauge and the width of the sh ets determined by the other so that the reduction of a series of stacks of paper to desired length and width may be quickly and accurately accomplished.

Another object of my invention is to provide back gauges one or more of which may be moved forward automatically a predetermined amount after each stroke of the knife and clamp while other back gauges remain stationary in a fixed position as desired.

A further object is to provide a simple stop and safety to prevent the automatically moved back gauge from coming in contact with the knife and clamp at the end of each stack of paper being cut.

Another object is to provide a back gauge that is adjustable within itself and provides two definit-e aligning faces which can be fixed with relation each to the other regardless of what position the back gauge is placed upon the paper cutting machine.

Another object is to provide a separable coupling between the mechanism operating the o knife and clamp and the mechanism operating the automatic back gauge, so that the knife and ciamp may be operated separately.

Another object is to provide an adjustable linkage to vary the movement of the automatic pack gauge while the parts actuating the linkage sy em have a constant and definite motion.

The above and other specific improvements to which reference will be made in the following description I accomplish by that certain combi- 1929, Serial No. 334,781

nation and arrangement of parts of which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment.

Referring to the drawings:-

Figure l is a perspective view from in front of the machine showing the manner of use of the back gauge for determining the width of a series of sheets.

Figure 2 is a perspective view fromin front of the machine showing the manner of the use of the back gauge for determining the length of a slitted pile of sheets.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine showing only the gauge mechanism.

Figure 4. is a front elevation of the machine.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the operating parts for the automatically operated back gauge.

Figure 6 is a plan bottom view of the back gauge feeding devices. 7

Figure '7 is a plan view of a back gauge showing how the face line may be offset.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the back gauge shown in Figure '7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged View of the ratchet mechanism operating the automatic back gauge.

Figure 10 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a plan view showing power spacing lever and connecting parts.

Figure 12 is a section through the roller clutch.

In the machine illustrated, the motor 1, mounted on a main frame or standard 2, drives a flywheel 3 by means of a belt 3a and ordinarily operates continuously. The fly-wheel is rotatively mounted on a shaft 4 journaled in the main frame. Rigidly mounted on the fly-wheel is a driving portion of a clutch which engages the driven part of the same clutch. The driven part is slidably keyed on the shaft 4. On the left hand end of the shaft 4 a gear (not shown) is keyed. This gear is keyed to the shaft 4 and is the means for driving a bull-gear wheel eccentric 7 which in turn operates the knife and clamp once for each engagement of the clutch by means of a hand lever 8 or a foot lever 8a. Since the clamp stroke is variable and stops before the completed revolution of the shaft 9 there is provided a slip pressure link 10 constructed in such a manner as to permit the cutting knife to complete its operation even though the clamp 12 has been somewhat blocked in its movement due to its engagement with a pile of paper or booklets. Such a paper cutting machine is specifically described in the patent to Seybold No. 1,451,120.

One the shaft 9 is fixedly mounted and properly set a cam 13 with a fixed high point to tip a power spacing lever 15, which will be hereinafter described, a definite amount for each revolution of the cam 13.

A roller 14 is rotatively mounted on a stud 14a which is fixed in the power spacing lever heretofore mentioned. This roller engages the periphery of the cam 13 and thereby motion is transmitted from the cam to the power spacing lever.

Power spacing lever and component parts A lever 15, in the form of a triangle, two sides being straight and a third and lower side 18, has one corner part fixedly mounted on a rotatable shaft 17 mounted in bearings at the base of the cutting machine. As the cam rotates it pushes against the roller 14 (see Figure 5), which, being mounted on the power spacing lever causes the power spacing lever to tip and rotate about a common axis of the shaft 17 upon which it is mounted. For reasons to be hereinafter explained, lever 15 is to be held out of engagement with the actuating cam when so desired. A T-slot 21 is provided in the lower side 18 of the power spacing lever for retaining the lower end of a connecting link 20 having its upper end connected by stud 19a to a spacer bracket lever 23 (to be described later).

Rigidly mounted on one of the straight sides of the power spacing lever 15 is a graduated curved surface 19 for denoting the amount of movement transmitted by the power spacing lever to a rack. The curved surface 19 and the T-slot 21 follow arcs having their centers at the axis of the stud 19a fixed in spacer bracket lever 23 as a center.

Means for transmitting motion from power spacing lever to spacer bracket lever The stud 19a fixedly mounted in the spacer bracket lever 23 is the support and pivoted connection between the spacer bracket lever and connecting link 20. This connecting link also serves as a motion and adjustment indicating unit. By referring to Figure 5 it will be seen that the connecting link 20 is an L-shaped member with legs of unequal length. The upper leg 20b extends to the left where at its extremity 200 an indicating arrow 20a is fastened. This arrow will point to a graduation on the curved surface 19 and indicate the amount of movement that will be transmitted by the power spacing lever for any particular setting of the connecting link along the curved surface 18 of the power spacing lever. The other leg 20c extends to the left at the bottom and forms a handle for conveniently changing the position of the connecting lever along the curved surface of the power spacing lever. The bar joining the two legs has a hole 201 for rotatively mounting the connecting link on a stud bolt 20a. This studs bolt head is held in the T- slot 21 of the power spacing lever and when a nut is tightened on the stud it will be fixed in place on the power spacing lever. This stud bolt also fixes and holds the connecting link in place along the curved surface 18 but in such a manner so as to allow the connecting link to rotate freely on it. Variable motion to the rack is the result of varying the distance between the pivot 20a of the connecting link along the surface 18 of the power spacing lever because of the longer or shorter distance between this pivot point 20a and the pivot point 17 of the power spacing lever.

The reason for the free rotation of the connecting link agout the studs 20a and 19a will be understood when it is observed that the pivot points of the power spacing and spacing bracket levers are fixed with relation to the frame of the machine while the two connecting points of the connecting link is movable with relation to the frame of the machine.

The spacer bracket lever 23 is rotatively supported on a stud 24 which is fixedly mounted in a boss 25 on the main frame of the cutting machine. As has been noted, the connecting link is connected to the spacer bracket lever by a stud in its short arm 22 and provides the means for transmitting motion from the power spacing lever to the spacer bracket lever. A long arm 26 of the spacer lever bracket has a bifurcated end 26a in which is rotatively mounted a slide block bearing 29 by means of a pin 28. This slide block bearing is free to slide in a vertical direction in a slot 29a located on the lower side of a combined rack and bracket 2'7. This vertical movement is necessary in order to compensate for downward movement caused by the spacer bracket lever rotating about its pivot. Rotation of the spacer bracket lever will cause the combined rack and bracket to move in a horizontal straight line.

The combined rack and bracket is confined to horizontal motion by its supporting rod 27a slidably mounted in bearings 27b which are fixed to the main frame of the cutting machine. Surrounding the rod 27a is a coiled spring 270 which bears against the bracket 2% as indicated at 27a and is compressed when the combined rack and bracket moved to the left. This spring assists a torque spring 30 acting on shaft 17 to return the power spacing lever system to starting position. The springs keep the roller 14 in contact with the cam while it is rotating away from the roler as long as a stop 35 is not in contact with a finger stop 33.

Power safety mechanism safety and stop control Rigid'y mounted on the combined rack and bracket is a connecting arm 31 which in turn is secured to a sliding bar 32. This bar is slidably mounted in bearings 32a fastened to the main frame. The sliding bar and the combined rack and bracket being rigidly connected, reciprocate as a single unit. Upon this bar in an adjustable manner is mounted a stop finger 33 which is held in position by means of a set screw 34. When this finger is held in a certain predetermined forward position with relation to the knife and ram by another stop finger 35 rigidly fastened to the back gauge, the entire power spacing mechanism will be held out of operating position because, with the rack held in an extreme forward position the power spacing lever cannot tip back and permit the roller to engage the cam.

In this position, as is shown in Figure 5, the high point of the cam will clear the roller and pass by without imparting motion to the power spacing system.

Power operated back gauge and mechanism boss 38 on the tongue of the back gauge. From this boss the chain passes around an idler sprocket rotatively supported on a stud 39a mounted in a bracket 39b which is rigidly supported on the table bottom. After passing around the sprocket 39 the chain extends to the front end of the cutting machine where it passes around another sprocket 40 which is secured to the driven half of a roller clutch to be hereinafter described. From this last mentioned sprocket the chain extends back and is secured to a second boss 41 on the tongue of the back gauge. By rotating the sprocket 40 in a counterclockwise direction the back gauge will be moved forward. Clockwise rotation of the sprocket 40 will return the back gauge to the rear of the machine.

Power operated back gauge control In order to move the back gauge forward automatica ly a determined amount for each stroke of the knife and ram, I have provided a roller clutch, with improvements, similar to the clutch used by Wadhams in his Patent No. 1,095,250. I do not intend to limit myself to this particular clutch but have made reference to the Wadhams clutch as I find it suitable for my purpose. This type of clutch permits intermittent motion while being operated by a reciprocating member, as will be explained.

The rack 27 meshes with a gear segment 43b fastened to the driving half of the clutch 43a. For each forward and backward movement of the rack the driving half of the clutch is oscillated counterclockwise or clockwise. With each counterclockwise oscillation of the entire clutch the back gauge will be moved forward a predetermined amount and come to rest while the driving half of the clutch returns in a clockwise direction. During the forward movement of the rack and the counterclockwise movement of the clutch the rollers 43c between the two halves of the clutch will lock the driving and driven halves of the clutch and cause the sprocket, which is' fastened to the driven half of the clutch, to rotate and pull on the chain 3'7 which in turn pulls the back gauge forward a definite amount. When the rack moves backward the rollers 430 will release and permit the driving half of the clutch to rotate clockwise while the driven half of the clutch remains at rest. During the return stroke of the rack the rollers 430 will release because the pocket in which they are confined allows them to recede away from the driving half of the ciutch. The broad idea of this type of clutch is well known in the art and requires no further specific description.

- My improvement to the clutch involves the provision of means for releasing the rollers locking the clutch leaving the hand-wheel 42 and sprocket free to be rotated in any direction. To accomplish this I have rotatively mounted a ring 46a concentric with the driving half of the clutch. In this ring there are pins 47a which engage releasing levers 4? equally spaced about the ring 46a.

The releasing levers 47 are rotatively supported on pins 47d within roller plates 47b which are fastened on the periphery of the driving half of the clutch. The noses 47c of the releasing levers extend into the clutch and engage the rollers 430 when the handle 46 on one of the releasing levers is pushed to the left. Pushing the handle to the left, as indicated in Figure 3, causes the ring 46a to rotate in a clockwise direction and simultaneously rotate the releasing levers, which in turn engage the rollers 43c'and force them out of engagement between the two halves of the clutch. When the rollers are in this position the handwheel can be rotated in any direction. Rotating the hand-wheel in either direction moves the back gauge backward or forward as the case may be.

Brake for power spacing mechanism.

supported in a slot 45g of a spring pin and a' bracket 45a: fixed to the main frame. It is held in engagement in the V-groove by a spring 450 which pushes against a shoulder 45b, of the spring in. The spring 450 surrounds the extension of the spring pin 45d and is confined within the spring pin bearing 45c rigidly mounted on the main frame. Adjustment of pressure of the brake shoe is obtained by means of the lock nuts 457' screwed on the end of the spring pin which limit the forward movement of the brake shoe when in contact with the surface 4570 of the supporting bearing 45c. In order to release the brake at will I have provided a lever handle 45p attached to a pin 45L with an eccentric 45N. The pin is rotatively supported in a fixed bearing bracket 45M on the main frame. The eccentric portion 45N fits into a fork 45r on the brake shoe and when the handle 45p is rotated clockwise the eccentric will move the brake shoe to the left and leave the hand-wheel free to be rotated manually.

Adjustable manually operated back gauge Another back gauge 49 consisting of two halves 49a and 49b so that the alignment faces 49c and 49d may be adjusted with relation one to the other, provides the means for determining the width of a sheet or an edge cut without resetting of this back gauge. To fix the back gauge 49 with relation to the knife and clamp I provide another hand-wheel 48 which is rotated manually. To this hand-wheel I have fixed another sprocket 50 which pulls the back gauge forward or backward by means of a chain 50a, each end of the chain being fastened to bosses 51 and 51a on the tongue of the back gauge which protrudes through the table top. As in the case with the power operated back gauge the chain 50a passes around an intermediate sprocket 52 rotatably mounted on a stud 53 and supported in the bracket 54 which is fastened to the bottom of the table. Turning the hand-wheel counterclockwise brings the back gauge forward, and turning the hand-wheel clockwise moves the back gauge to the rear.

General operation In the course of operating my machine I move the manually operated back gauge to a definite position and proceed to slit a sheet or pile of paper. After dividing the pile lengthwise I place the separate slitted piles against the side gauge and in contact with the power operated back gauge to divide this pile into definite Widths.

Having set my power spacing mechanism to ob- I. C

simultaneously. The cam 13 rotates with the shaft 9 and presses against the roller 14, tipping the power spacing lever. This lever pulls down the connecting link which in turn rocks the spacer bracket lever and causes the rack to rotate the entire roller clutch in a counterclockwise direction. The counterclockwise direction of the roller clutch and sprocket 40 pulls the back gauge 36 forward a certain amount. When the back gauge has been moved forward a certain amount the rack starts back due to the pull of the springs 27c and 30 and rotates only the driving half of the clutch in a clockwise direction.

The foregoing operation is repeated with each engagement of the main clutch until the entire pile has been subdivided. When the last cut of a pile is made the stop will have moved up with the back gauge and come in contact with the stop finger 33. When these two stops are in contact the rack cannot come back and since the rack is connected with the spacer bracket lever the connecting link and power spacing lever it will hold them in position and keep the roller out of contact with the cam in such a position so that the high point of the cam will pass by the roller without imparting motion to the power spacing mechanism.

It is obvious from this that with the proper setting of the stops the back gauge can never come in contact with the knife and ram and they may be operated independent of the back gauge.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a movable cutter and a gauge mounted for movement toward the cutter, mechanism imparting the cutter movement, and means whereby said gauge movement is imparted in synchronism with the cutter movement comprising levers in operative relation to said mechanism and said gauge, respectively, and a link having pivotal connections with the respective levers, the pivotal connection to one lever being adjustable toward and away from the fulcrum of said one lever on an arc concentric with the other pivotal connection.

2. In combination with a movable cutter and a gauge mounted for movement toward the cutter, mechanism imparting the cutter movement, and means whereby said gauge movement is imparted in synchronism with the cutter movement comprising a lever in operative relation to said mechanism, a link, a pivot holding said link in operative relation to said gauge, and a pivot connecting said link to said lever and being adjustable toward and away from the lever fulcrum on an arc concentric with the first mentioned pivot.

3. In combination with a movable cutter and a gauge mounted for movement toward said cutter, mechanism imparting the cutter movement, means whereby said gauge movement is imparted in synchronism with the cutter movement, comprising a ratchet device acting on the gauge, an operative connection between the ratchet device and said mechanism having an operative engagement with a moving part of said mechanism adapted to be detained out of the range of movement of said part, and means movable with said gauge, engaging said operative connection in a final stage of said gauge movement, detaining said operative connection out of said range of movement of said part preventing said engagement and inhibiting the action of said ratchet device.

4. In combination with a movable cutter and a gauge mounted for movement toward said cutter,

.a final stage of said gauge movement, detaining said lever out of said range of movement of said part, preventing said lever engagement and inhibiting the action of the ratchet device.

5. In combination with a movable cutter and a gauge mounted for movement toward said cutter, mechanism imparting the cutter movement, means whereby said gauge movement is imparted in synchronism with said cutter movement, comprising a cam rotated by said mechanism once for each cutter movement, a lever having a preventable operative engagement with said cam, a ratchet device acting on the gauge, and an operative connection from said lever to said ratchet device, and means operable with said gauge, engaging with said operative connection in a final stage of gauge movement, preventing said lever from engaging with said cam and inhibiting the action of the ratchet device.

6. In combination with a movable cutter and a gauge mounted for movement toward the cutter, mechanism imparting the cutter movement, and means whereby said gauge movement is imparted in synchronism with said cutter movement comprising a rotary member in operative relation to said gauge, an oscillatable ratchet device acting on aid member, a rack oscillating said device, a lever operatively connected to said rack, and a cam rotated by said mechanism once for each cutter movement and operatively engaging said lever.

7. In combination with a movable cutter and a gauge mounted for movement toward the cutter, mechanism imparting the cutter movement, and means whereby said gauge movement is imparted in synchronism with said cutter movement comprising a rotary member in operative relation to said gauge, an oscillatable ratchet device, acting on said member, a rack oscillating said device, a lever operatively connected to said rack, a cam rotated by said mechanism once for each cutter movement, a lever operatively engaging said cam, and a link having pivotal connections with the respective levers, one pivotal connection being adjustable toward or away from the fulcrum of its lever.

8. In combination with a movable cutter and a gauge mounted for movement toward said cutter, mechanism imparting the cutter movement, and means whereby said gauge movements is imparted in synchronism with said cutter movement, comprising a rotary member in operative relation to said gauge, an oscillating ratchet device having a gauge-moving action on said member and a return movement, an operative connection from said mechanism to said ratchet device causing said gauge-moving action, and a spring operatively related to said ratchet device causing said return movement.

9. In combination with a movable cutter and a gauge mounted for movement toward said cutter, mechanism imparting the cutter movement, and means whereby said gauge movement is imparted in synchronism with the cutter movement, com- 150 prising" a cam rotated by'said mechanism once for each cutter movement, a rotary member in operative relation to said gauge, an oscillating ratchet device having a gauge-moving action on said member and a return movement, a lever operatively connected to said ratchet device, a spring operatively related to said ratchet device, and a spring acting directly on said lever, said springs both acting to hold said lever in operative engagement with said cam and to cause said return movement of said ratchet device.

10. In combination with a movable cutter and a gauge mounted for movement toward said outter, mechanism imparting the cutter movement, means whereby said gauge movement is imparted in synchronism with the cutter movement, comprising a rotary member in operative relation to said gauge, an oscillatable ratchet device having a gauge-moving action on said member and a return movement, a rack oscillating said ratchet device, an operative connection from said mechanism to said rack, causing gauge-moving action, a spring acting on said rack, causing return move ment, and means on the rack and the gauge, respectively, engaging to prevent the return movement in a final stage of the gauge movement.

11. In combination with a movable cutter and a gauge movable toward the cutter, mechanism co-ordinating the movements of the gauge and cutter, comprising a rotary member operatively related to the gauge, an oscillating ratchet member to rotate said rotary member, a brake, a spring pressing said brake to said rotary member, and means to withdraw and restrain said brake from said rotary member.

12. A paper cutting machine comprising a sup port, a cutter mounted for movement on the upper part of said support, a gauge mounted on the upper part of said support for movement toward said cutter, mechanism having a movement for imparting the cutter movement, a cam mounted on the lower part of said support, rotated in unison with the operation of said mechanism, a twoarmed lever fulcrumed on said support below said cam, with one arm engaging said cam, a spring acting on said lever to hold it with said arm engaging said cam, a ratchet device connected to said gauge for intermittently advancing said gauge toward the cutter, and an operative connection from the other arm of said lever to said ratchet device.

13. A paper cutting machine as set forth in claim 12, in which the operative connection to the ratchet device comprises a second two-armed lever fulcrumed on the support above the first lever, and a link connecting one arm of the second lever to the other arm of the first lever, having its connection with one lever adjustable toward and away from the fulcrum of the one lever, the other arm of said second lever being operatively connected to the ratchet device.

14. A paper cutting machine as set forth in claim 12, in which the operative connection to the ratchet device comprises a second two-armed lever fulcrumed on the support above the first lever, and a link connecting one arm of the second lever to the other arm of the first lever and having its connection with said other arm adjustable toward and away from the fulcrum of said first lever, the other arm of said second lever being operatively connected to the ratchet device, said machine also including a graduated sector on the upper part of the first lever, and an indicating extension on said link, swung along said sector by said link when said link has its connection adjusted on said first lever.

15. In a cutting machine comprising a bed and a cutter, a plurality of gauges, each mounted directly on said bed for movement toward and away from the cutter, independently of each other, one gauge being movable at will to determine division of a sheet longitudinally into strips, while the second gauge is movable in a series of steps to determine the subsequent subdivision of each of said strips.

16. In a cutting machine comp-rising a bed and a cutter near the front of the bed, a plurality of back gauges, each mounted for movement independently of each other, directly on said bed, one gauge being movable at will to determine division of a sheet longitudinally into strips, while the second gauge is movable in a series of steps to determine the subsequent subdivision of each of said strips, and distinct operating means at the front of said bed, operatively connected to the respective gauges.

WILLIAM L. VALIQUE'I'IE. 

